Public advised of timetable for Nether Lochaber Slipway upgrade

The public is being advised of the timetable for works that are required at the Corran Ferry, Lochaber, to allow the slipway at Nether Lochaber to be upgraded.

The Highland Council, who own the slipway, has taken steps to minimise disruption to the service by hiring a floating pier to replace the slipway during the works, which are set to continue until 9 December.

Weather permitting, the floating pier is due to arrive at Corran Ferry on Wednesday 29 September. It will be manoeuvred into position by tugs on Thursday 30 September.  In the interests of safety, the ferry service will be suspended, between 6.30 am and 1pm on Thursday 30 September to allow this operation to be completed.

Once the barge is secured and in position it will be adapted to align with the ferry over the period  Friday 1 -  Monday 4 October.  Meanwhile, the smaller ferry vessel - the MV Maid of Glencoul - will continue to operate on to the slipway.  During this period there will be trials of the ferry on to the barge but every effort will be made to keep disruption of the ferry operation to a minimum.

All being well, subject to weather and tides,  the ferry will commence operating on to the temporary berth at the barge on Tuesday 5 October at 7.30 am and at that time the slipway will go out of operation and be taken over by the contractor for the remedial works.

The MV Maid of Glencoul will thereafter be operating on a permanent shuttle basis during daylight hours only and will be subject to a 3 tonne weight restriction.

For the first week the ferry will be operating to schedule between 7:30 am – 7 pm. The first sailing at 7:30 am is from Ardgour and the last sailing at 7 pm is from Nether Lochaber.

The bus service, which operates twice daily over the ferry, will be diverted around Loch Eil but passengers will have the opportunity if they so wish to cross on foot on the ferry to connect with the No 44 Stagecoach service which has a hourly frequency and stops on the A82 trunk road bus layby at Nether Lochaber at 17 minutes past the hour.

Emergency Services have made arrangement for continued service over the period.

The contractor is George Leslie Ltd and the floating pier is hired from JST Services, Ayr.

Details of diversions for larger vehicles will be signposted.

Details of the changes to the ferry operation and operating hours will be updated on the Council homepage